In 1874, the British Empire enlisted Sarat Chandra Das, a skilled civil engineer, as a spy in Darjeeling. His task was to train local agents and gather intelligence on Tibet, a move aimed at bolstering British influence in South Asia and outmaneuvering Russia in the Great Game.

Sarat Chandra Das (1849−1917) hailed from Chittagong in East Bengal, now part of Bangladesh, and pursued studies in civil engineering. Alongside his role as headmaster of a school in Darjeeling, he served as a spy, venturing into adventure, mastering multiple languages, and delving into Buddhist scholarship.